Holmes County Government

Holmes County Education

History of Holmes County

Rural Holmes County is situated in Northwest Florida, an area known for its hospitality and natural wonders. Holmes county was created in January 1848 as the 27th county of Florida, the second established county after Florida became a state during 1845. Holmes County has seen a number of changes since then but remains an area full of natural resources, character, history, and progress.

Before Holmes County came to be, its first settlers were mostly American Indians, as indicated by archaeological finds in the area. These artifacts date back thousands of years. The name of the County may, in fact, come from a Chief of the Creek Indians, Holmes.

The State Legislature situated the County's first government entities, the County Commissioners and the Circuit Court, on Hewett's Bluff by the waters of the Choctawhatchee. Later, voters decided to keep the county seat where it began. The Cerro Gordo Post Office was built there in 1848, and in 1861 the seat of government became officially known as Cerro Gordo. As the years passed, nearby towns Pittman Ferry and Westville became the seats of government for Holmes County, and since 1905 Bonifay was the final choice of the voters.

Holmes County residents can view nature at its best, as it contains rivers, creeks, springs, swamps, wetlands, and forests. The county is best described as verdant forest with deep streams and local plants enough to support a plethora of life. These same qualities supported a steady stream of settlers, who became loggers, farmers, cattle ranchers, and other types of agriculturalists. Many of those industries still support Holmes County today. The Choctawhatchee, with Holmes Creek, still serve as borders for Holmes County and have cedar, cypress, loblolly pine, and a wide variety of hardwood growing along their banks. The woodlands are also interspersed with lakes, ponds, and streams that showcase the natural beauty of Holmes County. Both professional and amateur nature-lovers can still enjoy wildlife native to the area. A great deal of conservation has managed to strike a wonderful balance between nature and man.

1850's Census recorded 1205 residents in Holmes County; 150 years later, it stands around 20,000. Besides the numerous small neighborhoods and communities within the county, other towns currently include Ponce De Leon, Poplar Springs, Esto, Prosperity, Westville, and Noma. All these combine to make Holmes County residents proud to call it home.

Holmes County is located ideally for business and pleasure both. It occupies a location central to the large cities such as Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee, and it is close to Interstate 10 and US Highway 90, as well as State Road 79 and State Road 2. These, with commercial air and rail transportation, along with real estate and economic development incentives, helps entrepreneurs in Holmes County pursue numerous business opportunities.

Holmes County's Economic Development Council, along with the Chamber of Commerce, strive to further economic pursuits through cooperating endeavors with local business to pave the way for positive enhancement through economic and political changes coupled with a swelling population and changes in the local job market. Though agriculture is still Holmes County's predominant industry, exciting economic enterprises are beginning to prosper, such as retail, manufacturing, automotive repair, residential and commercial real estate and construction, computer services and sales, and ecologic tourism. Holmes County is located centrally to many major military bases like Tyndall Air Force Base, Eglin Air Force Base, Pensacola Naval Air Station, Fort Rucker, Fort Benning, and the Naval Center for Surface Warfare. These also enhance the local economy in a large way.

The Development Council recently commissioned two studies of professional organizations and both found that Holmes County can readily support ecologic tourism. The Council has future initiatives that are showing positive results for both residents in the form of jobs and tourists who come to marvel at the natural beauty of Holmes County.

Information provided by the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce. You can contact them at: